Extensions are opportunities we offer our students to buy them a little time. Essentially, extensions of this sort add a little functionality back into their schedules that wasn't there before. It allows their schedule to function better for them.
In the same vein, the Google Chrome browser (aka the thing you use to Google stuff, if you aren't using Firefox, Safari, or heaven forbid, Internet Explorer) has extensions that you can add that allow it to function better ... for you. And, by extension, your students.
Read-Aloud: A Text to Speech Voice Readers allow for web pages to be read aloud, even PDFs. A menu of different voices can be selected and adjusted to suit individual preferences. It is a free extension and adds an oftentimes essential accessibility function to Chrome.
Verdict: Demo this feature to a classroom of students and discover that a handful of them will love it and use it. Have to wade through a dense article online? Have it read to you while you multitask, such as cook dinner or kick back. Highly recommended.
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